farming

Sunday afternoon trip to Saint Andrews Forest Farm

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Asimina triloba flowering along Howardsville Rd along Rockfish River on our way to the farm today.

We were able to collect more male pollen to take to SAFF native old colony of clones. We also took compost tea made from our home bin and spread it around the old colony pawpaw patch. So, as Chris said, “we fertilized and we fertilized.”

Two flowers on left are male and the greener smaller flower on the right is female.
Chris made a long paintbrush attached to his walking stick with tape to increase the range of buds we could reach.
We gently swiped the pollen from the male flower and brushed the females with the dusted paintbrush. You can see the dusty white pollen on the inside of the flower.
Blurry action shot of paintbrush on the long pole.
The Rappahanock cultivar at the south gulley native patch looks like the leaves will open up soon. We still have loads of Asimina triloba flower buds tight and unopened. We think the pollinating with go a few more weeks.
A photo of the temporary stairs to get in the house without climbing. Also, Chris is jacking the sides and was able to get the house leveled today. We measured spaces for the loft stairs and more. It was a nice weekend of activity.
The Virginia bluebells, Mertensia virginica, leaves are starting to emerge down in the old pawpaw patch.
And, lastly, one old and already decaying mushroom we found walking under pines down South Trail to the old pawpaw patch. It was nicely disguised with pine needles on the cap. Too melted to identify.
The underside of the unidentified mushroom.
After pollinating the Asimina triloba we came up North Trail and were greeted by the tiny house on wheels.

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